| 11 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT New Plymouth District Council - Junction Zero Waste Hub T T Sue Russell Sustainbility drives new waste facility The Zero Waste Hub, named The Junction, has created a community space to collaborate and give life to fresh ideas to reduce waste creation and divert waste from landfill. Driven by a long term strategic goal to reduce, reuse and recycle greater proportions of residential, commercial and industrial waste, New Plymouth District Council has dedicated money, time and energy into creating a new Zero Waste Hub. The Zero Waste Hub, named The Junction, has created a community space to collaborate and give life to fresh ideas to reduce waste creation and divert waste from landfill. Leading by example, The Junction was designed and developed with sustainability in mind. Joel Richardson, Senior Infrastructure Project Manager for New Plymouth District Council, and forms part of the team charged with the responsibility to see far-reaching environmental projects through to fruition, describes the new Zero Waste Hub project as an awesome project to work on. The Junction is located a next to a commercial and industrial waste sorting facility, public recycling drop off, Materials Recovery Facility that processes Taranaki’s recycling and the New Plymouth Transfer station, all on Colson Road. “This region is remarkably advanced in dealing with diverse waste forms. But, even after rolling out a comprehensive kerbside collection service with separate bins for recyclables, glass, food scraps and landfill waste, Council knew more waste could be rescued from going to landfill. So, The Junction – Zero Waste Hub was established in partnership with WISE Charitable Trust and Sustainable Taranaki,” Joel says. In three years, 579 tonnes of product have been diverted from landfills, over 99,000 people have visited the reuse shop and dropoff space and a staggering 7,135 visitors have attended workshops and tours. In 2022, Joel spearheaded the construction of The Sorting Depot, a commercial and industrial waste sorting facility next door to The Junction. The Sorting Depot takes skip bins from building and demolition sites, sorts and separates any waste that can be reused or recycled before sending the remaining material to landfill. One of only three facilities like this in the country, The Sorting Depot is an innovative way to tackle construction waste. Similarly, The Junction provides the community with an easy way to reuse and recycle reasonable quality items. Joel describes The Junction shop as a little bit like an op shop but on steroids. “People are able to take a trailer load of any accepted recyclable product from Grandad’s old house, as an example, anything that can be recycled and be dropped off at the public recycling area, while reusable, resellable goods can be processed through The Junction. We very much subscribe to the mantra that to encourage the community toward reducing waste, a Council has to create the infrastructure for this to occur and that the lay-out of the space needs to work for people visiting the site, with only one stop needed.” “In March 2020, we created a temporary facility for The Junction using shipping containers and a shelter to prove the concept of The Junction. Now we know it does work, we’re on to building the permanent, larger structure. The new building will sit on the site where the temporary space, now shifted, once operated.” When Business Central spoke with Joel, New Plymouth District Council was working through the building consent process. Livingstone Building was awarded the task of building the structure and were keen to start as soon as possible. With the ideal of walking the talk, the new building will be constructed from a significant amount of structural timber rather than steel to embody Carbon into the Building. “We were also mindful of minimising the weight of the structure as much as possible so minimising the amount of concrete required in a building this size,” says Joel. The Junction is operated by WISE Charitable Trust, who are engaged in finding meaningful employment pathways for those who might not easily find a job. “That’s a great thing in itself, that through this project further opportunities to work will be made.” Joel says there’s been strong community support for this Zero Waste Hub redevelopment. “This is a great region to live and work in and people are proud to belong to their community. New Plymouth is a great city with so much to offer. People are proud to live in this very special region.” Council is investigating how to make all its capital projects more sustainable in the future and The Junction build is showing leadership by example. Together We Innovate WSP is proud to partner with the New Plymouth District Council on The Junction, an innovative new building designed to support the community's reuse and recycling initiatives with our geotechnical engineering, structural design and project management services. Level 1, 1 Liardet Street +64 6 759 8880 170 Powderham Street, New Plymouth hello@architectpeople.co.nz Proudly Building Excellence in Taranaki. LIVINGSTONEBUILDING.CO.NZ | 0508 WE BUILD
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